Edge-plane fob boots and shoes



,No. 27,840. v PATEfi TED APR. 10, 186 0,

B,S.S.NELL. EDGE PLANE FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES,

E. S. SNELL, OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS.

EDGE-PLANE FOB.

BOOTS AND SHOES.

,Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,840, dated April 10, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. S. SNELL, of North Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Edge-Plane, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a view of my improved edge plane; Figs. 2, 3, and 4:, details to be hereafter referred to.

In edge planes for trimming and smoothing the edge of the soles of boots and shoes, where the face of the plane (on which the cutting edge is formed) is a segment of a circle and is also grooved or molded to give the required form to the edge of the sole-it is necessary that the cutting edge should be ground from the under side, that the configuration of the face of the plane may not be marred; to facilitate this grinding, and also to admit of bringing up the cutting edge (as it is ground away) nearer to the guard in front of it, the blade or face of the plane has been made in a separate piece from the shank, and has been made adjustable on the shank in a line at right angles to the handle. This was objectionable for as the blade was shortened by grinding, and was moved up toward the guard (which forms part of the throat of the plane) the position of the cutting edge was constantly changing with respect to the guard and the guard must also be adjusted to close up the throat of the plane to its former size.

The object of my present invention is to improve this tool, so that a single adjustment of its blade may regulate the position of its cutting edge with respect to the guard. And my invention consists in making the base of the blade (or that part which is at tached to the shank) and the top of the shank on which it moves, of a curve corresponding to the curve of the face of the plane, so that as the cutting edge is worn by grinding, and the blade is moved up toward the guard, the edge may maintain the same relative position with respect to the guard that it did at first, by a single adjustment of the blade.

That others skilled in the art may understand and use my invention I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried out the same.

In the said drawings A, is the handle, B,

' the shank (see Fig. 4,) secured thereto in the usual manner, G, the blade (detached in Fig. 2.) Its face a which is the segment of a large circle, is grooved and molded to give the required form to the edge of the sole. Its cutting edge a, is formed by grinding away the blade from the under side at Z). The upper part of the blade retains nearly a uniform thickness for some distance back from the bevel b, to permit the blade to be ground down as its edge becomes dull. In order to give sulficient stability to the blade where it is attached to the shank B, the base 6, of the blade projects forward, leaving the opening f in the middle of the plane. This space 7, besides admitting the edge of the thin stone which is used for grinding the bevel 6, serves for the escape of the shavings of leather.

The lower side of the base 0 of the blade C has formed on it a tongue 5, which fits in a corresponding groove in the top of the shank B, the base a and the top 2' of the shank fitting together, and being curved in a circle corresponding to, or equal to the curve of the face a of the blade C. A screw 9 passing through a slot m, in the shank B, enters the base of the blade C, and secures it in position on the shank, while it allows it to be moved or adjusted on the top of the shank. The shank B, is cut away at h, to give access to the screw 9.

The guard D, (detached in Fig. 3) is attached to the front of the shank B, by a screw 70, passing through aslot Z, in the guard, a tongue 6 on the shank fitting in a groove 7 in the guard. This allows the guard to be adjusted vertically, or in a line parallel with the axis of the handle A. The top of this guard at n is curved and also grooved and molded to correspond with the face a of the blade C-it is beveled off at 0, forming a throat between it and the beveled end I), of the blade C, for the passage of the shaving.

The parts being in the position represented in Fig. 1, with the guard D, raised sufliciently to bring it near enough to the edge 0, of the blade C, to cut a shaving of the required thickness; the tool is ready for the use of the shoemaker. When it has become dulled by use, the blade C may be removed by loosening the screw 9 and the end I), of the blade be ground. When the blade is returned to its place, the base 6, of the blade sliding over the curved top of the shank B,

(this curvature it will be remembered correpresented in the drawings is one which I responding with the curvature of the face a have found in practice to answer very well.

of the blade) as the edge 0 of the blade is What I claim as my invention and desire 15 brought up toward the guard D, the new to secure by Letters Patent, is

edge formed by grinding will fall into pre- The detachable blade 0 with a curved, cisely the position formerly occupied by the molded face 6.; when the same is made adedge 0, and the guard will require no new justable on the curved top of the shank B, adjustment. The whole adjustment of the substantially as described.

tool being made by one simple operation of E. S. SNELL. moving up the blade C. Witnesses:

I do not confine myself to the exact form CHANDLER SPRAGUE, of the parts here shown, although the tool HENRY BURRILL. 

